CALIFORNIA

California (or Golden State) is the most populous state in the United-states, with thirty seven millions of inhabitants and the third largest by area.

Geography: It is located on the west coast of the United-states, and is bordered by Oregon to the North, Nevada to the northeast, Arizona to the Southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the West and Mexico.Its capital is Sacramento and its most largest cities are Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, and San Francisco.
California is the third largest U.S state by land area, after Alaska and texas. Its geography ranges from the Pacific coast (where you can surf) to the Sierra Nevada mountain range in the east (where you can to admire the beautiful landscapes), to Mojave desert areas in the southeast and the Redwood-Douglas fir forestwhen you can do a hike of the northwest.
The center of state is dominated by the Central Valley, one of the most productive agricultural areas in the world.
California is the most geographically diverse state in the Nation, and containst the highest (Mount Whitney) and lowest (death valley) points in the contiguous United- States. Almost forty percent of California is forested, a high amount for a relatively arid states.

History:

Beginning in the late 18th century, the area known as Alta California was colonized by the Spanish Empire. In 1821, Mexico, including Alta California, became the First Mexican Empire, beginning as a monarchy, before shifting to a republic. In 1846 a group of American settlers in Sonoma declared the independence of a California Republic. As a result of the Mexican-American War, Mexico ceded California to the United States. It became the 31st state admitted to the union on September 9, 1850.
In the 19th century, the California Gold Rush brought about dramatic social, economic, and demographic change in California, with a large influx of people and an economic boom that caused San Francisco to grow from a hamlet of tents to a world-renowned